Folding fire escape stairway



July 5, 1966 W. A. scHol-:FFLER 3,259,207

FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE STAIRWAY 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 00'0.

Wi//iam A. Schaeffler INVENTOR.

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July 5, 1966 w. A, scHoEr-FLER 3,259,207

FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE STAIRWAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- Fled Oct. l, 1964 Wil/iam A. Schaeffler IN VENTOR.

July 5, 1966 w. A. scHoEFl-LER 3,259,207

Filed Oct. l, 1964 28 /0 F lg. 6 38 Wil/iam A. Schaeffler I Vl-NTOR.

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United States Patent O 3,259,207 FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE STAIRWAY William A. Schoeii'ler, 4011 California Ave., Carmichael, Calif. Filed Oct. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 400,677 7 Claims. (Cl. 18296) This invention relates to a novel and useful lire escape and more specifically to a fire escape of the ladder type and which is supported from an enclosure housing in a manner enabling the fire escape to be readily withdrawn from the housing and moved to an opera-tive position.

The enclosure housing for the tire escape of the instant invention is adapted to be secured in a special doorway provided therefor in an outside wall of a building. The enclosure housing includes opposite side members which are adapted to be secured along opposite sides of the door opening and which slidably receive the opposite side edge portions of the lire escape. Inasmuch as the opposite side members of the housing are disposed outwardly of the outer surface of the associated building wall the fire escape may be extended outwardly from the bottom ends of the guide members toward the ground. When the fire escape is in the inoperative raised position it is in horizontal alignment with the associated doorway and the latter may include an inwardly opening door for closing the doorway when the lire escape is not in use.

The lire escape is of the stair type and includes two parallelogram linkage assemblies between which a plurality of stair treads are pivotally secured. In addition, the fire escape also defines a second pair of parallelogram linkage assemblies which serve to dene `a pair of hand rails for the lire escape.

The main object of this invention is to provide a folding lire escape stairway constructed in a manner whereby the fire escape may be supported in -a retracted position within a special doorway provided therefor in the associated wall of a building.

A further object of this invention is to provide a folding fire escape or stairway of the type distinguished from a ladder in -that it is provided with tread panels in lieu of rungs.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a lire escape stairway construction adapted to be utilized in an inclined position as opposed to a substantially vertical position and whose tread panels are substantially horizontally disposed and thereby closely simulate stair treads of a conventional rigid stairway.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a folding fire escape stairway assembly of the type designed to support the stairway in an elevated inoperative position and to allow the stairway to be lowered to an operative position, the stairway when in the raised inoperative position being supported from opposite side enclosure members supported from the wall of a -building on opposite sides of a door opening formed therein.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a folding fire escape stairway in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively troublefree in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had :to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary 'front elevational view of the folding fire escape stairway assembly operatively sup- 3,259,207 Patented July 5, 1966 ported from the wall of a building having a door opening formed therein;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGURE 1 and with an Ialternate position of the stairway structure shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to that of FIGURE 3 but with the stairway structure in its retracted position;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but showing the stairway structure in the retracted position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7- is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 7--7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end portion of the stairway construction shown in the operative position;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 99 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 10 is -a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 10-10 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a wall of a building in which a door opening 12 is formed. The door opening 12 may be formed in the wall 10 one or more oors above the ground 14. The wall 10 has a door 16 pivotally supported therefrom by means of hinge assemblies 18 and it may be seen from FIGURE 2 of the drawings that the door 16 opens inwardly of the wall 10 and therefore is utilized to close the opening 12 independently of the folding fire escape stairway of the instant invention which is generally referred to by the reference numeral 20 and mounted on -the outer surface of the wall 10 to be in alignment with the opening 12 when the stairway structure is in the raised inoperative position.

The folding lire escape stairway 20 includes means defining an upright housing in the form of a pair of opposing channel-shaped members 24 and 26 which are secured to the wall 10 on opposite sides of the opening 12 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 28. The channel-shaped member 24 is shallower than the channelshaped member 26 and includes a pair of generally parallel sides 30 and 32 interconnected by means of a bight portion 34. The channel-shaped member 26 includes a pair of parallel sides 36 and 38 interconnected by means of a bight portion 40 and also further includes a web 42 generally paralleling and spaced from the bight portion 40. The web 42 defines an upstanding passage 44 in the channel-shaped member 36 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The folding fire escape stairway assembly 20 further includes a stairway structure generally referred to by the reference numeral 46 and including a pair of parallelogram linkage assemblies generally referred to by the reference numerals 48 and 50 interconnected by means of a plurality of stairway tread members 52 pivotally secured therebetween. Each of the parallelogram linkage assemblies 48 and 50 includes a pair of upright and generally parallel channel members 54 and 56 interconnected at their upper ends by means vof an upper brace 53, they stairway tread members 52 also functioning as braces and being secured between the lower end portions of the chan` nel members 54 and 56.

The stairway structure 46 also defines a second pair of parallelogram linkage assemblies generally referred to by the reference numerals 60 and 62. The second parallelogram linkage assemblies each include a plurality of supplemental braces 64 pivotally interconnected between the corresponding channel members 54 and S6 and including extended end portions 66. A pair of hand rails 68 are pivotally secured to the free terminal end portions of the corresponding set of end portions 66. In this manner, the hand :rails 68 and the channel members 54 and 56 parellel each other in order that the stairway structure 46 may be swung from the collapsed position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 7 of the drawings to the extended positions illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 8 of the drawings.

The stairway structure 46 is receivable in the channel members 24 and 26 when in the collapsed position as illustrated in FIGURES 4, 6 and 7 of the drawings. A tubular guide 72 is supported from the web 42 and includes a hooked upper end portion 74 and a laterally directed lower end portion 76 which terminates at its free end in a downturned portion 78. An elongated tension member 80 isslidably disposed through the tubular member 72 and has a counterbalance weight 82 disposed in the passage 44 secured to one end, the other end thereof being secured to a cross brace assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 84 and secured between the channel members 56.

The transverse brace member 86 is secured between the lower ends of the channel-shaped members 24 and 26 and comprises a stop which is engageable by the notched extensions 88 carried by the upper braces 58. Accordingly, when the stairway structure 46 is lowered through the channel members 24 and 26 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings toward the position illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, a small additional amount of downward movement of the stairway structure 46 will cause the notched extensions 88 to engage the transverse brace 86 thus causing the stairway structure 46 to be extended toward the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 of the drawings. However, inasmuch as the ground 14 is disposed immediately below the lower end of the stairway structure in its position illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it may be seen that before the notched extensions 88 can be engaged With the brace member 86, the stairway structure 46 must have its lower end swung outwardly of the wall 10. In this manner, when the stairway structure 46 is in its fully extended position illustrated in solid lines in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the lower end of the parallelogram linkage assemblies 60 and 62 will be supported from the ground 14. The lower ends of the channel members 54 and 56 are each provided with a roller 92 which is journaled therefrom by means of a support shaft 94. The counterweight 82 is suicient to counterbalance substantially all the weight of the stairway structure 46 and therefore the latter may be readily returned to its raised inoperative position by a person initially folding the parallelogram linkage assemblies 60 and 62 and then swinging the lower end portion of the stairway structure 64 inwardly toward the wall 10 and thereafter applying a light lifting force on the stair structure 46 so as to urge it upwardly into the lower ends of the channel-shaped members 24 and 26 toward the fully retracted positions illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 7 of the drawings.

The side 32 of the channel-shaped member 24 includes a free edge portion which projects into the opening 12 and has a spring detent assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral -94 secured thereto in any convenient manner. The detent assembly 94 includes a spring urged locking pin 96 'which is receivable through an opening 98 in t-he side 32 and also an opening 100 formed in the corresponding channel member 56 when the stairway structure 46 is in the -fully retracted position. Thus, the pin 96 is utilized to retain the stairway structure 46 in its fully retracted position and must be retracted against the tension of the compression spring 102 `out of engagement with the associated channel member 56 before the stairway structure 46 may be lowered toward its operative position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in fthe art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingy all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a wall structure having an exit opening formed therein elevated above a support surface disposed below said opening on the outside of said wall structure and extending away from the latter at least onethird the distance said opening is elevated above said surface, a folding tire escape stairway assembly including open bottom upstanding `housing means secured to the outer surface of said wall structure defining a pair of upstanding guides on opposite sides of said opening, an elongated stairway structure including two pairs of longitudinally extending and generally parallel opposite side members, a plurality of vertically spaced generally horizontally disposed tread members pivotally secured between said pairs of opposite side members forming a parallelogram linkage system with said stairway structure movable between a collapsed position with the corresponding side members on each side of the stairway structure spaced closely adjacent each other and said stair treads also disposed closely adjacent each other and an extended position with said corresponding side members .and also said stair treads yspaced apart, said structure being telescopingly receivable upwardly through the bottom of said lhousing only when in a collapsed condition, means carried by the upper end of said stairway structure engageable with said housing means when said stairway structure is in the extended position and inclined downwardly and outwardly away from the lower portion of said exit opening and operable to support said upper end of said stairway structure from said housing means, the uppermost tread of said stairway structure being generally horizontally disposed and aligned with and spaced outwardly of the lower extremity of said opening when said stairway structure is in the extended and ldownwardly and outwardly inclined position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said exit opening comprises a substantially floor level door opening and said door opening is provided with a hinged door member swingable about a vertical axis between a closed position closing said exit opening and an Iopen position` with the free edge of said door swinging inwardly of said wall structure.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes counterweight means connected between said housing and said stairway structure and operable to partially support the weight of said structure from said housing during vertical movement of said structure relative to said housing.

4. The combination yof claim 1 wherein said stairway structure also includes at least one elongated hand rail member supported, at one side thereof and generally paralleling the corresponding pair of side members by means of a plurality of parallel support bars pivotally Secured at points spaced therealong to said corresponding side members and said hand rail defining a second parallelogram linkage system supporting said hand rail from said stairway structure for collapsing with the latter.

5. The combination lof claim 4 wherein said housing is References Cited by the Examiner of suicient size to also receive said Ihand rail when said UNITED STATES PATENTS stairway is in a collapsed position. 43 283 6/1864 Ballantine 182 21 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing in- 269377 12/1882 Bessier 182 2.1 cludes releasable latch means coacting with said stair- 5 118081492 ,6/1931 BocchinB-:: 182 85 Way structure when the latter is disposed in said housing 2,084,303 6/1937 Applegarth 18.2 85 retaining said stairway structure in said housing. 2,101,659 12/1937 Vale 132 85 7. The combination of claim -6 wherein said releasable latch means includes an actuator disposed intermediate FOREIGN PATENTS the upper and lower ends of said housing and which prol0 449,560 6/1936 Great Bltlrl.

'ectsy utwardl f o one 'd i fsa`d ho U. J o y r m Si e o l usm" REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primm Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WALL STRUCTURE HAVING AN EXIT OPENING FORMED THEREIN ELEVATED ABOVE A SUPPORT SURFACE DISPOSED BELOW SAID OPENING ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE LATTER AT LEAST ONETHIRD THE DISTANCE SAID OPENING IS ELEVATED ABOVE SAID SURFACE, A FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE STAIRWAY ASSEMBLY INCLUDING OPEN BOTTOM UPSTANDING HOUSING MEANS SECURED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID WALL STRUCTURE DEFINING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING GUIDES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID OPENING, AN ELONGATED STAIRWAY STRUCTURE INCLUDING TWO PAIRS OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND GENERALLY PARALLEL OPPOSITE SIDE MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TREAD MEMBERS PIVOTALLY SECURED BETWEEN SAID PAIRS OF OPPOSITE SIDE MEMBERS FORMING A PARALLELOGRAM LINKAGE SYSTEM WITH SAID STAIRWAY STRUCTURE MOVABLE BETWEEN A COLLAPSED POSITION WITH THE CORRESPONDING SIDE MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE OF THE STAIRWAY STRUCTURE SPACED CLOSELY ADJACENT EACH OTHER AND SAID STAIR TREADS ALSO DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT EACH OTHER AND AN EXTNDED POSITION WITH SAID CORRESPONDING SIDE MEMBERS AND ALSO SAID STAIR TREADS SPACED APART, SAID STRUCTURE BEING TELESCOPINGLY RECEIVABLE UPWARDLY THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOUSING ONLY WHEN IN A COLLAPSED CONDITION, MEANS CARRIED BY THE UPPER END OF SAID STAIRWAY STRUCTURE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HOUSING MEANS WHEN SAID STAIRWAY STRUCTURE IS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION AND INCLINED DONWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID EXIT OPENING AND OPERABLE TO SUPPORT SAID UPPER END OF SAID STAIRWAY STRUCTURE FROM SAID HOUSING MEANS, THE UPPERMOST TREAD OF SAID STAIRWAY STRUCTURE BEING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AND ALIGNED WITH SAID SPACED OUTWARDLY OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID OPENING WHEN SAID STAIRWAY STRUCTURE IS IN THE EXTENDED AND DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED POSITION. 